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(No Model.)

J. I. CONKLIN, Jr. Track Circuit Closer No. 234,657. Patented Nov. 23,1880.

' NllE Sterne aren't FFIQE.

JOSEPH I. GONKLIN, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRACK CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,657, dated November 23, 1880.

Application filed July 21, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH I. UONKLIN, J r., of the city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Track Circuit- Olosers, of which the following is a specification.

In Letters Patent No. 222,383, granted to me, a track circuit-closer is shown and de scribed, consisting of a lever pivoted to the rail and operated by the wheels of a passing train to bring a spring-block into contact with stationary studs and close the electric circuit to a railroad signaling instrument.

My present invention is made to dispense with said contact blocks and studs, and to provide a device that is simple in construction and not liable to derangement.

I make use of a metal bar that is supported at its ends in rubber or other blocks that in sulate it from the rail, and these insulatingblocks are secured in clips attached to the rail. The yielding-bar is parallel with the rail, and its top is slightly above the tread of the rail, so that the car-wheels will run upon said bar and make metallic connection therewith and close the electric circuit to the signaling-instrument.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the track circuit-closer, and Fig. 2 is a section of the same at the line 00 or, in larger size.

The clips to a are secured to the rail 1) by the bolts 0, and each clip is formed with the box portion (1 to receive the rubber or other insulating block h. The insulating-block is kept down within the boX by the cap-plate e.

The circuit-closing bar f is preferably of steel, and of a length to allow two wheels of the train to be on it at one time, and the ends of this bar pass through the blocks h, and they support said bar and also insulate it from the rail I).

(No model.)

Slots are made in the ends of the box d, as indicated by dotted lines at 2, so that the bar may move vertically, and these slots should be wider than the bar f, so that said bar can- 4 5 not come in contact with the box d.

The circuit-closing bar j' is parallel with the rail 1) and contiguous thereto, and its top sur face rises above the tread of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2'. When the'wheels of a passing train and the current passing by said wire to the bar, wheel, rail, and ground.

If the insulating-blocks h are of rubber or other elastic material they allow the bar fto yield as the weight of the train comes upon said bar, but the bar is kept up to the wheel or. wheels by said blocks h and by the elasticity of the bar, and said bar resumes the normal position shown as soon as the car-wheel runs oil the bar.

In case the insulating-blocks h are non-elastic, then the elasticity of the bar f will allow it to yield as the car-wheel passes over it, and

to spring up to its normal position when the wheel passes off it.

I claim as my invention The track circuit-closer, composed of the barf, supported by the insulating blocks it within clips secured to the rail, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 19th day of July, A. D.

J. I. coNKLIN, JR.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINOKNEY, OHAs. H. SMITH. 

